Aircraft-framework member



June 8 ,1926. 1,588,327

- D. J. MOONEY AIRCRAFT FRAMEWORK MEMBER Filed Jan. 22. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 8 ,1926. 1,588,327

. D. J. MOONEY AIRCRAFT FRAMEWORK MEMBER Filed Jan. 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR W Zkrmot Jfflqone y ATTORNEYS 7 work member which may be manufactured Patented June 8, 1926,

' "UNIT-E1) PATENT oF'FICE.

'mmno'r J. Mooney, 01* LONDON, ENGLAND.

"AmcRAFr-rRAMEwonk mama.

A lication ma J'aniiary '22, 19 2s, Serial no. 83,106, and in G-r'eat Britain December 10, 1924.

The present invention relates to frame work members for aircraft which may find embodiment in a strut, spar, or boom.

It is an object of the invention to provide a framework member which will combine.

lightness in weight with strength and durability of construction, and a frame with comparative economy. r v

Preferably the framework members are hollow, and formed of a plurality of metal;

members are reinforced transversely bymembers which act both asstruts nd ties.

In' the case of relatively large spars, the frame members may be formed of a plural: ity of metallic strips or ribbons corrugated longitudinally to strengthenthe same, and

either directly or a a carrying nuts 13 whichfieffectively retain connected together through the intermediacy of corrugated connecting webs. .These webs may be of sectional construction and include a number of web members held together by lap joints.

i In other embodiments of the invention, particularly when the invention is applied 'to relatively massive spars, strengthening means may be provided inthe form of diaphragms or posts disposed either within or Wit-h the above not d a d other abate in "view, the invention consists in certain novel features. of constructionand combina; tions and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth 'and pointed out in. the claims. .The invention maybe "more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Flg. 1 1s a fragmentary perspect ve View of a frame member embodying the invention, the frame member of Fig. 1 illusembodying the invention, each of said; views illustrating a modification. I

In Fig. 1 I,hav'e illustrated a somewhat elementary embodiment of the invention in which the boom includes a pair'of metallic strips '10, 10 bent lon'g itiidinally so that they are approximately three-quarter circu larin cross section. The edges of the strips are reversely curved, providing lap joints at 11.

snugly fit one within the other, the two sec tions when joined, providing a frame man I ber of substantially 8-sh ape' in cross section. 'Transverse connecting bolts 12' are passed through the lap joints 11, these bolts the united sections, 10 and 10 against relative separation. Some means is provided for preventing relative advance of the two sections at the lap joints. This ineansvmay The overlapping edges of the sec-. tions are similarly contoured so that they '60 elevations of other types of fram members conveniently comprise-a spacing sleeve .14

encircling the intermediate portion of the bolt 12. Obviously any suitable .number of bolts are provided throughoutthe lengthof the hollow frame member. 7 1

InFig. 2 I have illustrated a construction I similar to Fig. 1, except that theme'mbers 10 and 10 are formed with longitudinally extending depressions 15 defining corruga-v tions 16 which materially strengthen the constructiom,

In Fig. 3 the'inembers are provided with two depressions 17, defining 3"c0rrugati0ns 18, and rendering each sectionsubstantially cross shaped infcr'oss section.

InFig. A: I have shown a pair of sections 19 and 20 which are relatively wide and formed with aplur'ality f'coirngations 21. The ends of the members form lapjoints at22, and are connected by bolts and spacing sleeves in the manner above described.

In Fig. '5 the hollow frame members iiiion clude metal sections 22 and 23 connected by intermediate webs 24L. Thewebs form lap joints as at 25 with the sections 22, A bolt and spacer sleeve construct on 7 similar to that described above is used to .e the webs to the framesections at the are corrugatef to provide a plur grooves and ribs, a d the when? are also" .hen the construction.

corrugated to stre The showing 0. Fig. 7 is substantially the same as showing of Flg. 6, except that the' frame mernbers 29 are formed with a eater number of corrugations than the irame members 26, and the webs are indentedat Elrather than corrugated throu their entirewidth.

Fig. 8 shows uncorrugated frame members 32fconnectedh-y corrugated webs 33, the interm'ediate portions S iofthewebs in this instance actually contacti and being con r nected by rivets, bolts or other securing devices 35.

The showing of Fig. 9 is substantially similar to that of Fig. 8, except that I have shown corrugated tubular frame members 36, and have employed a spacing member 87 on the bolt 38 which connects the intermediate portions of the webs 39.

48 of hollow construction, and approxi-v In Fig. 10 the frame members 4&0 are connected toeach other by a series of webs ll. Webs 41 are'connected to each other by lap joint's lii, bolts 44 and spacers 45.

The end webs 41 are connected by lap joints 47 to the frame members in the manner previously described.

In Fig; '11 I have shown frame members inately star shaped in crosssection connected by webs 49 which are substantially uniformly corrugated. The space between the .webs is materially less than the width of the frame members 48, so that I may employ a pair of external strengthening plates posts 50 which are riveted as at 51 to the corrugations of the webs 41-9, and which materially strengthen the construction.

In Fig. 12 Ihavesh0wn pairs of tubular corner posts 55. The posts of each pair are connected'by a web 56. Lap joints 55 82 and cross bars 73.

braces 61, tl ends of which project into the necks of the tubular corner posts 55, and are held by bolts ihe crossed braces 61 may be co as by a rivet or other connecting as we 63 their point of crossing, that a substantially rigid construe is bad.

tothat of Fig. '12 plate pr ing of the framed.

me members 61' be ng riveted .eplate. J V

In Fig. 141- I show a construction somev what similar to that Fig.1l, except that the bracing means is disposed within the crossed strengthenir (Y frame member, and the frame'member isof approximately un formavldth. Here the corrugated posts or frame members 66 are connected by webs 67,, the webs being regularly corrugated and defining with the posts, lap joints 68 through which connecting bolts 69 are passed... Instead of using the spacing sleeves however, I prefer to utilize channel plates 70, the flanges .71 of;said plates receiving'the cross bolts69, and being riveted as at 72 to. the corrugated 'webs 67.

The showing of Fig. 15 is similar to that of the figure just described, except that a further modified type of spacing and reinforcing means isv employed. Here the re inforcing means and spacing means com.- prises a double t'i-shape frame including legs The connecting bolts 69 pass through the legs '82 adjacent the ends of the latter, and'the webs 67 are riveted as at 72 to the legs 82." The cross bars 73 serve as spacers and the frame 82, 73acts to afford a substantial reinforcement v for thetubular spar or strut. J '105 It will be noted that all forms of the aeroplane frame member which I have described, embody certain common features. In every instance the frame member is made up of a pluralityof metallic sections which are longitudinally bent and which are connected to each other by lap joints. In every instancealso the connecting devices which pass through the lap joints are associated with certain spacer means which inmost instances are in the nature of spacing sleeves around the connecting bolts and which are formed to produce shoulders which abut the inner members of. opposite lap joints. It will also be noted that in. most instances the lap joints are defined bysimilarly curved portions of the adjoining sections, so that there is a positive interlock at the lap joint independently of the. connecting bolts. In every instance the complete frame 'member is externally corrugated to strengthen the same, and in every case except Fig. 1, the indlvidual sections of the frame members are longitudinally corrugated.

Various changes and alterations might be 3 of parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit jacent sections being formed to produce lap joints, at least two of said lap joints being provided and being disposed directly opposite each other, and combined strutand tie means connecting said oppositely disposed lap joints and serving also to secure the members of each of said oppositely disposed lap joints to each other.

2. A hollow framework member comprising a plurality of cooperative longitudinal sections, the meeting edge portions of ad-- j acent sect-ions being formed to produce lap joints, at least two of said lap joints being provided and being disposed directly opposite each other, and combined strut and tie means connecting said oppositely disposed lap joints and serving also to secure the members of each of said oppositely disposed lap joints to each other, said combined strut and tie means extending through said hollow framework member between said oppositely disposed lap joints and having shoulders abutting the inner faces of the inner members of said oppositely disposed lap joints,

3. A hollow framework member comprising a plurality of cooperative longitudinal sections, the meeting edge portions of adj acent sections being formed to produce lap joints, at least two of said lap joints being provided and being disposed directly opposite each other, and combined strut and tie means connecting said oppositely disposed lap joints and serving also to secure the members of each of said oppositely disposed lap joints to each other, said combined strut and tie means comprising a rod extending through said hollow framework member and through alined openings 1n the members of said oppositely disposed lap Jjoints, spacer means on said rod between the inner members of said oppositely disposed lap joints, and

nuts screwed on the end portions of'said rod'against the'outer members of said oppositely disposed lap joints. 7

4. A hollow framework member comprising a plurality of cooperative longitudinal sections, the meeting edge portions of adjacent sections being formed to produce lap joints, at least two of said lap joints being provided and being disposed directly opposite'each other, and combined strut and tie means connecting said, oppositely dis,- posed lap joints and serving also to secure the members of each of said oppositely disposed'lap joints to each other, the members of each of said lap joints being similarly formed to interlock adjacent sections together at the joint and so that the edge of each member of said lap joint issupported by the other member of said lap joint.

5. An aircraft framework member comprising a pair of longitudinal hollowframe members open at their inner sides, and web members connecting. corresponding edge portions of said hollow frame members, the

meeting edge portions of'said webmember's and said hollow frame members being formed to provide lap joints, the lap joints at the edges of each of said hollow frame members I being in alinement transversely of said aircraft framework member, and combined strut and tie means connecting said alined lap joints and also serving to secure the members of each of the connected lap joints toeach other.

6. An aircraft framework member comprising a pair of longitudinal hollow frame members open at their inner sides, and web members connecting corresponding edge portions of said hollow frame members, the meeting edge portions of said web members and said hollow frame members being formed to provide lap joints, the lap joints at the edges of each of said hollow frame members being in alinement transversely of said aircraft framework member, combined strut and tie means connecting said alined lap joints and also serving to secure the members of each of the connected lap joints to each other, and reinforcing members extending between said hollow frame members and connected with said web members.

DERMOT J. MOONEY;

lili) 

